Masculinities, power and change

Abstract

We have had 25 years of research on men and masculinities. Even if we, who are conducting this research, often say that very little has been done and very few areas of men’s practices have been studied, we have gained some important ground in the understanding of men as gendered beings and the significance of critical reflections concerning masculinities. But at the same time we are still struggling with some key concepts within masculinities – and gender – studies, like for example how to understand men’s relationship to power, change and gender equality. In this essay I will first present some of the main findings that most researchers agree on, and then I will present what I think should be cornerstones to better understand men’s relationship to power and marginalization, change and gender equality. Understanding men and masculinities This essay is based on three fundamental assumptions. First, as long as women do not have access to capital and money to the same degree as men, gender equality will not be fully achieved. Second, changing cannot only focus on structures, but must include attitudes and emotional aspects. Third, both men and women are part of the existing gender system and are responsible for reproducing it, or changing it. We must give attention to both men and women, and both men and women are able and willing to change. We could summarize a general, theoretical understanding of masculinities cross-culturally developed within critical studies on men and masculinities as follows: Men are not neutral. Men are no longer objective, neutral beings (Kimmel 2000). Historically, both in traditional research and politics, men were looked upon as non-gendered; they were the speakers of truth and objectivity. Research on men has shown that men are embedded in gendered systems to the same degree as women. They are gendered. This means they have interests as gender, they are subjected to power because of their gender, and they are performers of power in a gendered way. Men must therefore be understood not outside of and above gender structures or gender politics, but within and as a part of the circulation of gendered ideas in a culture.